What does this number measure?
Shell gives a length of 488 m and a width of 74 m for Prelude FLNG. This reference compares the length of the floating facility itself; subsea pipelines, mooring chains, support vessels and safety zones are excluded. Prelude extracts, liquefies and stores gas before transferring it to transport vessels. It is an industrial facility designed to remain moored at its site, rather than an ocean liner or container ship making voyages. Its inclusion among boats serves to compare dimensions, without attributing to it the record for the longest self-propelled ship. The illustrated modules, cranes and piping are interpreted.
Compare the stated dimensions
The comparison uses the number in each fact sheet: altitude, height, diameter, length or distance, depending on the reference. Two values in metres do not necessarily describe the same property.
Compare with Seawise Giant · historic oil tanker in the explorer →
Source and limitations
Rounded documented dimensions of the installation, according to a Shell page updated in January 2025. This is neither the length of a gas pipeline network nor a dimension including its moorings; no ranking of self-propelled ships is claimed.
Interpretation of Prelude FLNG, a floating industrial installation. Total horizontal length calibrated; equipment and details interpreted. Does not represent a self-propelled transport ship.